This is the course blog for the seminar in U.S. Black Freedom Movements. Students will be submitting their work here throughout the semester. Students can submit links, video clips, and their own thoughts on reading materials and even current events or conversations that intersect with the course.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Vrai Américain: American Identity in Giovanni's Room

When we read The Fire Next Time
a couple weeks ago, I was immediately struck by James Baldwin's
prose. He is very adept at utilizing the English language, organizing
sounds and rhythms, and bringing the text to life. That was one of
the first comments that was made on his work, an observation that it
sounded like a speech and had a “voice.” Because I considered his
to be some of the best writing that we had experienced in the way of
technique, I took Elizabeth's advice and I went ahead and read
Giovanni's Room.

First,
this is a fantastic book and I agree that everyone should read it.
Both the story and the writing are great and I think its social
clarity is refreshing, especially considering that it was published
in 1956. It's a pretty quick read, as well. The story revolves around
an American, David, living in Paris who spends some time in a
relationship with an Italian bartender, Giovanni. One of the elements
that I found intriguing and relevant to our class discussion is
David's inability to define what it is to be American. Throughout the
story, David is reluctant to return home to New York. He is running
out of money in Paris and his father refuses to send him more because
he simply wishes for David to return and make a life for himself in
the United States. At one point during David's relationship with
Giovanni, he reflects on the fact that the way he lives his life in
Paris would be illegal at home. He confesses that there is French
prejudice against homosexuality as well, but the legal demarcation is
important in repelling him.

One
passage in particular stands out as David questions the factors that
define an American while he is visiting an American post office.
Baldwin writes, “I was aware that they all had in common something
that made them Americans, but I could never put my finger on what it
was.” Further along in the passage, the text reads, “I...resented
being called an American...because it seemed to make me nothing more
than that, whatever that was; and I resented being called not
an American because it seemed to make me nothing.” This inability
to accurately define oneself is unsettling to David. There is an
underlying discomfort of being defined by America. And he eventually
comes to a realization: “beneath these faces, these clothes,
accents, rudeness, was power and sorrow, both unadmitted, unrealized,
the power of inventors, the sorrow of the disconnected.” This
implies that there is some sort of power inherent in the American
identity – a power derived from building a nation perhaps. Or
possibly from inventing the concept
of a nation in America. The power is reinforced by some kind of
deception. And this power gives way to sorrow – sorrow derived from
the truth that there is no connection between Americans. Their unity
is rooted within their disconnection and inability to solidify their
bond.